In Focus: June 13 - July 3
This twice monthly list of OPCC events, reminders, and news is compiled by Lori Moilanen. Please send information on upcoming events, news items, and corrections to opcc4mail@gmail.com. This newsletter is currently published twice monthly on Sunday evenings in advance of our first and third Thursday meetings. The deadline for submissions for the next newsletter is Friday July 1.
NEWS
Update from OPCC President Bruce Fryxell Regarding In-Person Meetings
We are still hard at work to resume in-person meetings. Our current plan is to meet at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sequim starting with our next Share Night on July 7. This will be a hybrid meeting. Anyone not wanting to come to the church will still be able to participate via Zoom as usual. We have purchased a 70” television to display our images, which we have donated to the church. Many thanks to Mary Swartz, and Peg and Jim Hanson for making this happen. Also, thanks to Peg and Marian Bodart for their donations to cover the cost. We are still working on obtained a suitable microphone to enable interaction between people at the church and those on Zoom, but we expect to have this sorted out before the first meeting. Refreshments will be served. We will continue to hold our Education Night meetings solely via Zoom for the foreseeable future. As always, please send any comments or suggestions you have to me at opccpres@gmail.com.
Announcing Lightroom Classic Beginner’s Seminars Starting June 22
Thanks to everyone who responded to the survey of Lightroom users and whether you would like to participate in an Adobe Lightroom Classic class. Enough people responded positively, so we are launching a series of four seminars on getting started with Lightroom. Once we have established the basics, the group may then decide if they want to continue and what direction they would like to take seminars. Although these first sessions will be for beginners anyone is certainly welcome to join.
The first session will be Wednesday, June 22 at 3:30 PM via Zoom. If you plan on attending please register with Peggy McClure at pmmcclure@outlook.com. Once you have registered, Peggy will send you the class outline, Zoom code and any notes on what to expect during the class. These will also be posted in the OPCC Website Members Only section on the Classes and Workshops webpage in the next few days.
In addition to the seminars, a number of our more advanced members have volunteered to serve as mentors. We are compiling a list of these members with information on how to contact them and what topics they are most likely to be able to assist you with. This information will be posted to the Members Only section of the website.
For more information on the seminars contact OPCC Competition Chair Peggy McClure (opcc.competition@gmail.com).
Information on the 2022 Clallam County Fair Photography Exhibit and Competition
OPCC member Peg Hanson shared the following information about submitting photos for the 2022 Clallam County Fair:
OPCC will not be hosting the Clallam County Fair this year. OPCC members interested in entering their work may do so by visiting to the Fair website at www.clallam.net/Fair and submitting the entry form available at: www.clallam.net/Fair/documents/PhotoOpenAdultEntryForm.pdf.
For more information, or for those who individuals who may be interested in volunteering, please contact Exhibit Superintendent Cheryl Martin at 360-461-1025. Cheryl is seeking an assistant superintendent as well as volunteers to hang photos, serve as booth attendants, or to otherwise help out. Help is needed Sunday through Wednesday before opening day on Aug 18 and then during the Fair to watch the exhibit as well as the building, usually a 4 hour commitment.
Video Posted for June 2 Competition/External Review Meeting
The video of the Spring Competition/External Review has been posted to the website along with the scoresheet from PSA Judge Joel Ohlsen. Click HERE to visit the video archive and HERE to access the scoresheet webpage (both are Members Only). There were many amazing images submitted and the feedback from the judge and members who attended the meeting was helpful in learning how to evaluate an image. Watch the video if you weren’t in attendance to get an insight into how the evaluations are conducted —- hopefully you will be inspired to submit an image for the upcoming Summer Competition (see details below).
New Member
A warm welcome to our newest member, Jacqueline Hill. We’re glad you’ve joined us!
PSA Washington State Membership Newsletter Available
The June edition of the monthly Photographic Society of America (PSA) Washington State Membership Newsletter is now available. the newsletter typically includes event listings, photo news, equipment reviews, and more. Click HERE to view or download.
Winners and Finalists of the 2022 Big Picture Competition Announced
The OPCC June Special Theme for photography and education is Wildlife/Nature. Need some inspiration for your wildlife/nature photography? Click HERE to check out the Winners and Finalists for the 2022 Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition.
EDUCATIONAL SPEAKER SERIES
OPCC Education Night: Hector Astorga - What Makes an Award-Winning Image : How to Approach Nature Photography Competitions. Thursday, June 16 - 7:00 PM via Zoom
Having won many regional and national nature photography competitions like the NANPA Showcase, National Wildlife Federation Photography Competition , Wildlife in Focus, and Nature's Best Windland Rice International Awards, Hector will share his approach on how to select images for nature photography competitions. He will discuss do's and don'ts for selecting images and will share his personal "recipe" for creating images that do well in photo contests. He will talk about creating unique images to capture the judges attention and what your expectations should be when entering competitions. Click HERE to view Hector’s biography.
Use the OPCC Education Night Zoom Code to access this meeting. Click HERE to access the OPCC Zoom Codes webpage.
MEMBER SHARING
Next Member Share Night Meeting is July 7 at 7:00 PM.
Our current plan is to hold a hybrid meeting for the July 7 Member Share Night meeting. The in-person meeting will be at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sequim. Anyone not wanting to attend the in-person meeting at the church will still be able to participate via Zoom as usual. Watch the website and next newsletter for details.
The monthly Special Theme for sharing is Birds/Flight/Raptors.
For more information or questions about OPCC Member Share Night, contact Member Share Night Chair Dan McKenna (opccphotos@gmail.com).
FIELD TRIPS, WORKSHOPS, & MEET-UPS
Eagle Action Photography - Trip Report
At least 11 OPCC members made the trek to Seabeck on May 31 to photograph eagles and herons in action at the Big Beef Creek estuary. Be sure to check out the resulting photos in the Field Trip Gallery. Many thanks to guest host Bonnie Block for sharing her detailed knowledge of the site to get members prepared for the field trip and to OPCC Secretary Susan Anaya for organizing the trip. Field trip participants - if you haven’t done so already, please upload your photos using the Field Trip Dropbox link.
OPCC June Field Trip - Nature Photography at Port Williams County Park, Thursday June 23, 7:00 - 11:00 AM.
In keeping with our June photo/education theme of Wildlife/Nature, Lori Moilanen and Todd Katke will host a field trip at the maritime bluffs and beach at Port Williams County Park near Sequim to photograph birds, insects, and perhaps other wildlife. In summer, the bluffs are extensively used by birds and insects for nesting. Early in the morning we’ll primarily focus on photographing the pigeon guillemots that nest in cavities on the bluffs and also spend time on the beach or in the water. Later in the morning we’ll work on capturing close-up images of the remarkable insect community that exists on and near the bluffs - this is a great location to practice your hand-held macro photography skills. Members are welcome to participate in one or both sessions according to their interests. Complete details and gear recommendations will be posted on the OPCC Field Trips webpage later this week. You can visit the Field Trip webpage by clicking HERE. For questions about this field trip contact Lori Moilanen (opcc4mail@gmail.com).
Some Photos From Port Williams County Park (Photo Credit: Lori Moilanen)
COMPETITION/IMAGE EVALUATION
OPCC Summer Competition/External Evaluation is Open for Submissions
Deadline for submissions: September 19
This is an open competition, so while the theme is Summer, the submissions maybe on any subject, color or monochrome. Your imagination is your only limitation! We have limited the number of submissions to two images per member so that we have ample time to discuss the image and comment on the judge’s scores. We look forward to viewing your submissions and seeing you at the October 6 meeting. Information and tools for OPCC competitions are located on the “Competition” webpage in the Members Only section of the website (click HERE to visit the Competition webpage). For more information contact OPCC Competition Chair Peggy McClure (opcc.competition@gmail.com).
External Competition Updates - Check the OPCC Website for complete details on the following competitions
The International Garden Photographer of the Year will accept entries through October 31 in a variety of categories.
The Washington State Fair – Northwest International Exhibition of Photography is accepting registration for entering through Saturday, July 23, 2022 and the last day to submit your entries is July 25, 2022. To view or download the instructions go to Enter a Competition at the Washington State Fair (thefair.com) and click on Northwest International Exhibition of Photography.
If You’re Aware of Competitions That Might Interest OPCC Members…
If you are aware of any competitions you think members might be interested in please contact Competition Chair Peggy McClure at opcc.competition@gmail.com. Peggy will gather the details and when appropriate we will publish information in the Newsletter and on the Website.
Information on a select list of external competitions (curated by Peggy McClure) can be found on the Competition webpage of the OPCC Website in the Members Only section.